Key column clamp



Feb. 19, 1929.

G. F. NEWTON KEY COLUMN CLAMP Filed Oct. 18, 1926 A TTORNEYS.

l atented Feb. l9, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE F. NEWTON, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOSEBAS- TIAN PATTI, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

KEY COLUMN CLAMP.

Application filed October 18, 1926. Serial No. 142,419.

This invention relates to concrete form column clamps and has for itsobject to produce a key operated clamp wh1ch is extremely strong anddurable and W111 positively lock forms which are internally subjected tovery high pressures or forces.

Another objectis to produce a concrete form column clamp which may beinitially clamped in position by means of an external clamp and whichwhen a key is forced home, will further positively draw the parts closetogether to insure the proper locking of the clamp bars around the form.

A still further object is to produce a simple, strong, durable,efiicient and inexpensive concrete column clamp of the characteroutlined which can be quickly applied in or removed from operativeposition, and in order that it may be fully understood, reference is tobe had to the accompanying drawing, 1n which:

Figure 1 is a horizontal section taken through a form equipped with acolumn clamp embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail of the method of clamping and looking acorner of the form in position.

Figure 4 is a section on the line IV IV of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a section on the line V-V of Figure 4:.

Figure 6 is an. enlarged edge view of one of the locking keys.

Figure 7 is a fragmental plan of a modified construction.

Figure 8 is an edge view of a clip disclosed in Figure 7, and adaptedfor carrying two clamping keys and detachably engaging crossed clampingbars.

Figure 9 is an end view of the clip.

In the said drawing, where like reference characters identifycorresponding parts. the clamping mechanism with reference particu larlyto Figures 1 to 6 inclusive, comprises rectangular bars 1 of anysuitable length formed along one of their side edges with a series ofclamping teeth 2. Adjacent one of its ends each bar is bent upwardly asat 3 and then continues parallel to its main or body portion as at 4.Riveted or otherwise secured to said end of the bar 1 is a short bar 5,and said bar is also bent slightly as at 6 and continues as at 7 to forma bifurcated portion or clip in conjunction with the part 4, of suitablewidth to snugly receive the straight end of a similar clamp bar aswillbe readily understood upon inspection ofthe drawing. Upon referenceto Figure 5, it will be noted that the inclined portions 3 and 6 of bars1 and 5 respectively are internally corrugated in order to formfrictional surfaces for engagement with one edge of the straight end ofanother ofthe bars being clamped, as will more clearly appearhereinbelow. i

The ends of the clips or parallel parts 4 and 7 are formed with a pairof alined slots 8 for the sliding reception of locking keys 9. Each keyis formed along one of its edges with a hardened knife edge 10 forengagement with the teeth 2 of a bar 1, and is inclined along its otheror outer edge, as at 11, for abutment againstthe outer end of the slots8, as will be readily understood. It will be understood that thewedge-shaped keys 9 at one end are too large to pass through the slots8, and in order to prevent them from falling from position in theopposite direction, the smaller ends are crimped as at 12, after theyhave been placedin position.

After a form has been encircled by four of the clamp bars abovedescribed and the corners have been preliminarily tightened, if desired,by the use of any suitable character of cam operating clamp or othermechanism, the operator will lock it in position and will incidentallyfurther tighten the corners by driving the wedges home with hammer blowsat the large end of said keys 9. This operation it will be evident, willeffect a tightening of the clamps bythe Wedge action of the knife edge10 within the key 2 and will positively efi'ect the locking of the formsince the bars are frictionally engaged at both of their edges, theinner edge by being tightly pressed against the corrugations internallyformed on the inclined portions 3 and 6 of the bars 1 and 5. hen it isdesired to unlock the form, the operator will strike blows on the loweror smaller end of the keys 9 to drive them upwardly and disengage theirknife edges 10 from the teeth 2. If there is any tendency for the rearedges of the bar 1 to be tightly engaged by the corrugations internallyformed in the end of the bifurcated portions, the operator will strike afew light blows on the rear or inner edge of said bars 1 to disengagethem from said corrugated portions.

The structure as described is preferably modified slightly for use inerecting columns within six inches or so of a wall as is sometimesdesirable, as in such case the free end of one of the bars 1 may projecttoo far in the direction of the wall to permit of the necessaryadjustment for clamping purposes. For illustration assuming that thecolumn is to be located so close to a building wall that the space willbarely accommodate the projecting free end of the right hand bar 1 ofFigure 1, in such case, the left hand bar 1, which would project too farand hence against such wall, wouldhe dispensed with and the bar 1* shownin Figure 7 would be substituted therefor. The bar 1 may project anydesired distance beyond the bar 1 parallel with such wall but at theother side therefrom of the proposed column, as inclicated in Figure 7In this case the teeth 2 of bar 1, corresponding to teeth 2 of the corresponding bar 1 of Figure 1, will be reversed, and bar 1 will beprovided with a single oppositely facing tooth 2*, for engagement by thewedge key 9 of the bar 1 adjacent the wall, the notch 2 being disposedclose to the adjacent extremity of bar 1. As in this arrangement theedge of bar 1 containing the teeth 2 crosses the lower bar 1, it isnecessary to provide two keys to secure said bars in such crossedrelation, and to carry said keys a clip 13 is provided. The clip isU-shaped in edge view to provide a passage 15 for the lower bar 1 andone wall of the clip is provided with a verticalchannel or passage 16 toaccommodate the bar 1. The clip is provided with vertical slots 17 toaccommodate a vertically'disposed Wedge key 18, and a horizontal slot 19to accommodate a horizontally arranged wedge key 20. \Vhen the bars arepreliminarily tightened in any suitable manner, the wedge keys aredriven home as hereinbefore described with respect to wedge keys 9, sothat the key 18 shall engage a notch or tooth of bar 1, and the key 20shall engage a notch or tooth of the bar 1*, both bars being thus forcedinto clamping relation with the enclosed form F. The form may thereforebe clamped firmly at all sides provided there is sufficient spacebetween it and the wall to accommodate the bar 1 adjacent to andparallel with the wall, and the end of the crossing bar 1 projectingfrom the first-named bar toward said wall.

From the above description, it will be apparent that T have producedconcrete form column clan'iping appliances which may be employedelliciently wherever a column is to be erected, and which may bemodified in minor particulars in other respects than those mentioned;within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a concrete form column clamp, a tlat har formed with a, series ofteeth along one of its side edges and bifurcated at one of its ends, themembers of the bifurcated end being formed with alined openings, and awedge shaped locking key carried by said alined openings in thebifurcated end and at right angles thereto.

2. In a concrete form column clamp, crossed flat bars arrangedrectangularl and each bifurcated at one of its ends and formed with a ofl'll along one of its side edges, the members of the bifurcated endbeing formed "with alined openings, and la pered locking keys slidinglyreceived in the openings in the bifurcated ends of the clamp bars andextending at right angles to the bi furcations thereof, one edge of saidwedge key being adapted for engagement with the teeth of an adjacentclamp bar.

3. In a concrete form clamp, a series of crossed bars arranged angularlyand adapted to enclose and flatly engage the sides of a correspondingform. pair of the bars having their outer edges toothed; a clipslidingly receiving said crossed pair of toothed bars and provided withslots extending parallel with said bars respectively, and wedge-shapedkeys fitting in said slots and adapted to engage teeth of said pair ofbars and to force said bars inwardly against the adjacent orcorresponding" sides of the form.

Tn witness whereof I hereunto affix my signature GEORGE E. NEWTON.

